The 34-year-old linebacker signed a $1.5 million, one-year contract Wednesday with Miami, said his agent, Gary Wichard.

Taylor played his first 11 seasons with Miami before being traded to the Washington Redskins. He was released by Washington last winter after one injury-plagued season.

The New England Patriots courted Taylor, but he wanted to return to South Florida, where he still lives.

"My heart has always been in Miami, and so I'm truly excited to call myself a Dolphin once again," Taylor said in a statement. "I was presented with a number of different opportunities, but in the end the combination of this being the best situation for my family, my love for this community and my tremendous loyalty to a great organization made this an easy decision."

The Redskins released Taylor after he turned down a chance to play another season with them for $8.5 million. He could give Miami's pass rush a much-needed boost at outside linebacker opposite Joey Porter, who led the AFC with 17.5 sacks last year.

Taylor was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the Dolphins in 2006 and made the Pro Bowl six times. After the regime led by Bill Parcells took over the Dolphins early last year, Taylor was traded to Washington for two draft picks.

Taylor, who missed only four games in his 11 seasons in Miami, was unable to stay healthy in Washington. He sprained his knee during the preseason and hurt his calf in a win over Arizona on Sept. 21. Taylor required an operation to have blood drained from his calf and a second procedure a month later.

The calf injury hampered Taylor much of the season, and he struggled to fit into a Redskins' defensive scheme that gave him less freedom than he had with the Dolphins. He had only 3.5 sacks for the Redskins, his lowest total since 1999.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

That's one of the most long and complex contract renegotiations in the history of football.